Singapore Botanic Gardens is a large source of pride for nature lovers in SIngapore, and is large enough to act as an attraction of its own. If you aren’t up for long, arduous hikes but still want to rejuvenate yourself among Singapore's flora, take a long stroll through the Botanic Gardens. In fact, follow along on a walk through the Gardens to explore the many sights and experiences this UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer.
Swan Lake
We enter through the Tanglin Gate, and follow the Main Gate Road. The first thing to catch your eye should be the lake.
Any prior visitors to the Gardens will list Swan Lake as one of its main features. Just under 1.5 hectares across, the rippling water is home to aquatic plants, tortoises, fish and of course, the eponymous swans from Amsterdam. Visit in the early morning for the ideal view of the morning mist, and to truly enjoy how cool the air is around the Gardens
As an added bonus, hold up the back of a local $5 bill and look around - the iconic low-leaning Tembusu Tree is nearby, one of Singapore’s proudest heritage trees!
Ginger Garden
Taking the path up to Dell Lane, you’ll start to notice the surrounding fields and individual trees give way to rows of cultivated plants and more colourful displays - that’s when you see the sign.
The Ginger Garden is a serene location with ponds, bridges, a waterfall, and a whole host of ginger plants to really spice up the area. The garden organises over 250 ginger plant species into their places of origin, so it's also a great place to explore and learn something along the way!
National Orchid Garden
Just a bit further up the path, and you’ll come to Orchid Square; the entrance to the Gardens’ pride and joy.
The National Orchid Garden hosts a carefully cultivated environment of well over 1000 species of Orchids and 2000 ‘hand crafted’ hybrids, each a beautifully unique flower in varying colours and different shapes and sizes.
Pay to enter the garden, and you’ll get to walk gently winding paths painted in all the colours of the rainbow. The Orchid Garden has many separate, smaller attractions where Orchids of great variety rule the show - from the Golden Arches where yellow orchids wind above your head, to the Enchanted Garden where hundreds of orchids bloom within a giant bird cage. The experience is a never ending opportunity for photos of flowers and spectacles.
Rain Forest Boardwalk
After leaving the breathtaking Orchid Gardens, take a small detour down through the Rain Forest.
Here, you’ll experience a step into Singapore’s natural history by walking beneath some of its oldest living members. The Gardens’ Rain Forest is located in the heart of the Botanic Gardens and is a primary forest, meaning it has been untouched since before the Gardens was officially established. As you walk, wonder at the towering canopy and rich undergrowth, and try your best to spot out animals like tree shrews and flamebacks that call the forest home.
If you can, find the signage demarcating the Strangling Fig, one of the oldest and largest trees in Singapore!
Fragrant Garden
Once outside the rainforest, take another detour to make your way down to the Fragrant Garden.
Here, you will find flowers with particularly strong aromas. The Fragrant Garden has been purposefully cultivated to give you a unique olfactory experience, with many different species of flowers giving off their scent to attract pollinators. Best visited in the evening when the flowers are at their peak, this garden aims to soothe and delight the senses of any that happen upon it.
Eco-Garden & Eco-Lake
Once you’ve had your fill of the flowers, head up the Red Brick Path to the Eco-Gardens and Eco-Lake.
If you haven’t had enough of the lakes, or weren’t able to see the swans, this place will give you a second chance. While the Eco-Garden and Eco-Lakes’ primary purpose is to show a diverse range of plants that had enormous economic impact in the past (like bamboo), its main attraction is the family of Black Swans that make their home on the lake’s surface. Hailing from Western Australia, these beauties never fail to delight with their majestic appearance.
That aside, the area is all gentle slopes and preened fields, making it the perfect place to relax after a walk and soak in the scenery. There are also a variety of other miniature gardens to explore nearby, so feel free to stroll around and enjoy the atmosphere!
Trellis Garden
Last stop on the way out, the Trellis Garden is a small patch of land where large varieties of climbing plants wind their way up specially designed trellises. These plants require support to weave their way toward sunlight, and are an interesting final sight with their many vines, hooks and thorns!
Botanic Gardens MRT
Past the Trellis Gardens and you’ve finished your scenic walk through the park! The Botanic Gardens MRT station is located here and will see you speedily home.
Alternatively, you can head over to the nearby Serene Centre or Coronation Plaza if all that walking has made you peckish.
Or, if you haven’t had enough of the Gardens just yet, there are a whole variety of restaurants and eateries located within the grounds of the Gardens themselves.
